Hiruko

The next day, just as the Third Hokage was feeling overwhelmed by the situation regarding Jiraiya, a figure appeared at the door of the Hokage office, covered in dust. His face bore a hint of exhaustion, but his eyes were exceptionally bright—one might even say he looked exhilarated.

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It was none other than Jiraiya, who had been missing for an entire day...

"Yo! Old man! Tsunade! Orochimaru! I'm back!"

Jiraiya pushed the door open boisterously, his voice booming.

The three people inside the office looked over in unison.

"Hey, you guy, why do you look so filthy?

Did you fall into a cesspit somewhere?"

Tsunade looked Jiraiya up and down, pinching her nose as she asked.

"Heh heh, this master here went to an incredible place!"

Jiraiya chuckled, unbothered by Tsunade's words, and instead puffed out his chest, speaking with smug pride.

"Oh?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was somewhat curious; had Jiraiya found a powerful summoning beast?

Orochimaru, however, understood; if he wasn't mistaken, the place Jiraiya had gone to was Mount Myoboku.

"Heh heh, that place is called Mount Myoboku!

A group of super powerful toads lives there! I even signed a contract with them!"

Jiraiya said, acting mysterious.

"Mount Myoboku?!

You... are you talking about that legendary sacred land of summoning beasts, Mount Myoboku?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up abruptly, his face filled with shock and disbelief.

As the Third Hokage, he had access to far more secrets than the average person, so he had naturally heard of Mount Myoboku.

It was a place that only existed in legends; he never expected that this seemingly unreliable disciple of his would have such an astonishing stroke of fortune!

"That's right! It's that very Mount Myoboku! The toad boss there is a Toad Sage who has lived for who knows how many years—he's incredibly powerful!"

Seeing his teacher's shocked expression, Jiraiya became even more smug.

Tsunade also put away her joking expression, looking at Jiraiya in surprise.

Although she didn't know what Mount Myoboku was, judging by Teacher Hiruzen's expression, it had to be an impressive place.

Orochimaru was also somewhat excited. Mount Myoboku, Toad Sage... as expected, the plot was still developing along its established trajectory.

In that case, didn't he now have the material to research senjutsu?

Jiraiya's miraculous experience brought a ripple of excitement, but soon, life returned to its usual rhythm.

Tsunade gradually became immersed in an ocean of knowledge, finding it both painful and joyful.

As for Orochimaru, he began another important task: raising funds.

An independent laboratory, advanced equipment—which of these didn't require money?

Although the Dean had provided supplier channels, the issue of capital still had to be solved by him.

And so, the major casinos around Konoha once again welcomed that legendary figure—"Ghost God Akagi Shigeru".

Relying on gambling techniques and psychological knowledge far beyond this era, the "Akagi Shigeru" persona adopted by Orochimaru was simply invincible at the card table.

In just a few weeks, the title "Ghost God Akagi Shigeru" began to circulate through the casinos around Konoha.

Of course, he knew this wasn't the proper path, but right now, it was more important to establish the laboratory as quickly as possible and get his research on track.

One day, just after Orochimaru had deposited the money he won at the casino into the bank, he was walking back to his residence, pondering the location for his laboratory.

As he passed a secluded training ground, a burst of noise caught his attention.

"Hey! Hiruko! You loser!"

"You can't even perform the simplest Clone Technique, and you still want to be a ninja?"

"I think you should just go home and drink your mother's milk! Hahaha!"

Several half-grown children surrounded a white-haired boy, mocking him wantonly.

The white-haired boy kept his head down, his fists clenched tightly, his body trembling slightly, his face pale and his lips pressed thin, yet he said nothing.

The white-haired boy's frame did indeed appear somewhat frail, forming a sharp contrast with the other energetic children.

Hiruko...

Hearing this name, Orochimaru's footsteps faltered.

He looked at the white-haired boy surrounded in the center, recalling the identity of this child.

Hiruko, a student who graduated from the Ninja Academy in the same year as him.

However, due to his physical condition, Hiruko had no talent for ninjutsu training, and was considered a hopeless case by everyone, including his teachers.

But Orochimaru knew exactly what kind of path this seemingly frail boy would walk in the future.

The Chimera Technique!

A forbidden technique that fused multiple Kekkei Genkai in a delusional attempt to attain perfect power!

Although he was a boss who got finished off by Naruto's Rasengan in the movie, his talent for biological modification and forbidden technique research was beyond doubt!

Moreover, the reason this child would end up on the path of a movie boss seemed to be because he was crushed by his physical limitations, eventually breeding a thirst for power that led him to the path of self-modification.

Even though his path was twisted, he actually managed to produce results in the end; if he could be guided just a little...

Thinking of this, Orochimaru's eyes couldn't help but light up.

Ninjas in the Hidden Leaf were obsessed with fighting and killing; such a research-oriented talent was a rare commodity.

He needed a helper, someone who could understand and assist with his research.

And wasn't this seemingly unremarkable Hiruko right in front of him the perfect candidate?

"What are you doing?"

Thinking this, Orochimaru walked over slowly, interrupting the mockery of those few children.

The children were startled by the sudden voice. They turned around and saw a cold-tempered boy with black hair, his golden snake-like pupils so sharp that they felt a sense of fear.

"It's... it's Orochimaru!"

One of the children recognized Orochimaru and stammered.

Orochimaru was a celebrity at the Ninja Academy; his reputation as a genius was known to all.

"N-nothing..."

Another child waved his hands hurriedly, pulling his companions along as they tried to slip away.

Orochimaru ignored the brats as they fled in a panic, his gaze falling upon Hiruko, who was still keeping his head down.

Hmm?

Hiruko suddenly raised his head, looking at Orochimaru with a sense of unwillingness.

The person before him was different; he had graduated from the Ninja Academy at the top of his class and had even become a disciple of the Third Hokage.

They were the same age, yet they were worlds apart...

Thinking of this, Hiruko couldn't help but clench his fists.

"Heh~ are you unwilling to remain this weak?"

Seeing this, Orochimaru smiled. He walked up to Hiruko, crouched down, looked into those gray eyes that were darting away out of inferiority, and spoke slowly.

"..."

Hearing this, Hiruko's expression turned quite ugly.

Of course he was unwilling, but his unwillingness was useless!

Due to his innate condition, his chakra reserves and physical abilities simply couldn't compare to others!

He was like a disabled person trying to run a race; it was nothing but a pipe dream!

"Are you here to laugh at me, Orochimaru?!

You probably don't even know who I am, do you?"

Hiruko took a deep breath and asked Orochimaru.

"No, I know you, Hiruko."

Orochimaru shook his head and replied.

Hiruko shuddered, looking at Orochimaru in disbelief.

He... he actually knows me?

How is that possible?

At school, Orochimaru was notoriously aloof. No one had ever seen him talk to anyone else, and he always went home alone after school.

How could someone like that know his name? Did he hear it from those guys just now?

"Every time there's a theory exam, the person ranked right behind me is you, isn't it?"

Orochimaru's voice was calm, yet it struck Hiruko's heart like a thunderbolt.

Theory exams...

A layer of mist instantly welled up in Hiruko's eyes.

Yes, his ninjutsu was poor, his taijutsu was poor, and the only thing he could show for himself was his theory grades.

Because of his poor health, he had plenty of time to read, and he had read almost every book he could find in the library.

But what was the use of that? A ninja, in the end, had to rely on strength.

No matter how good his theoretical grades were, it could not change the fact that he was a dead last.

He had always assumed that no one would ever notice a loser like him, someone who was good at nothing but theory.

He hadn't expected...

Orochimaru, of all people... actually remembered him.

And he remembered the only field he excelled in...

A warmth he had never felt before surged into his heart; Hiruko's nose stung, and tears nearly fell from his eyes.

"I... it's me..."

Hiruko sniffled hard, his small face contorted with emotion.

"Uh..."

Orochimaru was taken aback by the sight. Why was this kid crying?

He had been prepared to say that he valued Hiruko's learning ability and intended to teach him biology.

"Ahem. The strength of a ninja does not consist solely of ninjutsu and taijutsu.

Wisdom and knowledge are also vital components of power."

Orochimaru watched as a glimmer of spirit returned to Hiruko's eyes and continued.

Knowledge... and wisdom, he thought.

Hiruko stared blankly at Orochimaru, as if seeing him for the first time.

Even though Orochimaru possessed the power of ninjutsu just like everyone else, he was actually affirming the value of knowledge and wisdom.

This was the first time!

It was the first time someone had ever said such things to him!

They weren't mocking his physical weakness or pitying his lack of talent; they were affirming his knowledge and his hard work!

And the person saying this was the genius Orochimaru!

Hiruko's heart hammered against his ribs, his cheeks flushed slightly with excitement, and his tears began to flow once more.

"Uh..."

Seeing Hiruko's reaction, the corner of Orochimaru's eye twitched.

He didn't quite understand; he was just trying to invite the boy to join his research group, was there any need to be this emotional?

"Ahem, anyway, Hiruko, would you be willing... to research medical ninjutsu with me?"

Orochimaru gave a light cough. Though he didn't grasp the reason for the boy's reaction, he extended the invitation nonetheless.

"Research... medical ninjutsu?"

Hiruko was stunned. Orochimaru was actually inviting him to research medical ninjutsu together.

"That's right. Medical ninjutsu does not require a massive amount of chakra, and a profound understanding of human anatomy, pharmacology, and pathology can become a tremendous advantage.

With your learning ability, you would surely have a great future in this field..."

Orochimaru nodded and continued.

"I... I'm willing!"

Before Orochimaru could finish his sentence, Hiruko interrupted him, his eyes shining with unprecedented determination.

He had never imagined that someone like him could be needed by others, or that someone could place such high hopes in him.

"Uh..."

Watching the boy before him, whose body trembled slightly from excitement, Orochimaru scratched his head.

His first research assistant, he supposed, was now in the bag?